"Champaigne for my Real Friends, Real Pain for my Sham Friends!": On Friendship and the Construction of Psychological Interiority in Theognis

Abstract: Theognis' verses on friendship reveal an universal problem: relationships between friends are not always as they seem. People may hide thoughts, feelings, plans and intentions such that so-called friends may turn out to be enemies. Theognis develops a language of psychic interiority to explore this deception and deploys several metaphors to describe the phenomenon, including counterfeit currency. In this article I explore a new reading of Theognis 309–12 that draws upon the construction of psychic interiority and examines Theognis' advice to navigate politically troubled times: namely, to become like Odysseus who disguises his inner thoughts, ever looking to take advantage.